Who is at fault?

Accident Reconstruction  The goal of accident reconstruction is to: analyze the accident to help determine what happened when it happened where it happened why it happened how fast the vehicles were traveling who was involved who was at fault

Tire Marks  Can be used to determine the direction of travel  Can be used to identify the type of vehicle

Identifying a Vehicle  The track width and wheelbase are used to identify a vehicle  The track width is measured from the center of each tire to the center of the opposite tire; remember that the front and rear track width measurements may differ  The wheelbase is the distance between the center of the front axle and the center of the rear axle

Wheelbase and Track Width

Turning Diameter  Used to help identify a vehicle  Is the measure of how tight a circle can be driven by a vehicle  In other words, the minimal space required for a car to make a U-turn

Turning Diameter

Types of Marks  Skid marks: Formed when someone brakes suddenly and locks the wheels Provides evidence of the distance brakes were applied Calculation of velocity can be made from skid marks

Types of Marks  Yaw marks: Produced when a vehicle travels in a curved path faster than the vehicle can handle and skids sideways Tires and road surface melt from extreme conditions Audible squeal and often smoke occurs

Types of Marks  Tire scrub: Produced by a damaged or overloaded tire or tires during or immediately after impact Usually curved, irregular in width May have striations that look like stripes Determine area of impact